Don’t take it out on TMJ, FAM Deputy President advises fans, media

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — FA of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Wira Yusoff Mahadi has advised fans and the media not to take it out on FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Malaysia’s 1-2 defeat to Lebanon.

He said the Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) has been on the job for just 84 days now and that he should be “cut some slack”.

“ The defeat appears to be the talk of the town with some newspapers and social media commentators making it appear as though it’s the president’s fault. I fear if they (media and social commentators) go overboard the president might just throw in the towel.

“We must give our undivided support to TMJ. He does not need FAM but the fans certainly do. We do not want a repeat where the president quits before his tenure ends. It does not mean that if a new president comes in Malaysia will win all its matches,” he told a press conference here today.

The match against Lebanon in the 2019 Asia Cup Qualifiers last Tuesday was the Harimau Malaya’s first since TMJ took over the FAM hot seat in March. — Bernama